March - NAJC

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"The Eternal One is the Healer of the broken hearted
A Quarterly Newsletter of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains
NAJC:
Rabbi Ephraim Karp
Conference
Rabbi Lowell Kronick,
Rabbi Shira Stern,
Immediate Past President
President
Rabbi Natan Fenner,
Rabbi Mark Goldfarb
President-Elect
Newsletter Editor
Chaplain Sheila Segal, V.P.
Rabbi Robert Tabak, Secretary
Rabbi Charles Rabinowitz,
Journal of Jewish Spiritual
Care, Editor
Rabbi Seth Bernstein,
Cecille Allman Asekoff,
Rabbi Yaacov Rone, Treasurer
Certification
Executive Director
Vol. 22 No. 3 ~Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
On The Inside:
Presidentʼs Message..........1
Certification News .............2
Web Site News...................3
Continuing Education.........3
Treasurer's Report.............4
Midwest Chaplains
Yom Iyun.............................4
Honoring Rabbi Taylor........5
An Anniversary Blessing....6
Chaplaincy Mission to
Israel.............................6
Summit '09 Recap ........7-10
Journal on Jewish Spiritual
Care Call for Articles.....10
There Comes A Time........10
With Our Members............11
Chaplain Happenings........11
New ~yrbx........................11
Upcoming Events..............12
Board Members.................12
NAJC 901 Route 10 Whippany, NJ 07981 (973) 929-3168 [email protected]
Raising A Generation
of Chaplains
Rabbi Lowell Kronick,
MHL, BCC, NAJC President
Message
From
The
President...
On Monday, February 2, 2009,
NAJC paid special tribute to Rabbi Bonita Taylor for
her significant achievements as an ACPE Supervisor
and her many contributions of time and talent to NAJC.
As President, I delivered the following D’var Torah in
Bonita’s honor:
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said
one to another, It is manna: for they did not know what
it was. (And Moses said to them it is the bread that G-d
gave us to eat. (Exodus 16:15-17)
This translation is misleading. Instead of “They said
to one another it is manna,” the Hebrew text reads mon
hu (they said to each other “what is it”?)
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Riminov gives us a
new insight into the meaning of this verse:
NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
When each Jew ate the manna—the heavenly bread
—their face changed and they took on a different
appearance until they were unrecognizable. This
person who ate the manna became different than they
were before.
“They said one to another, mon hu, ‘who is this’ [not
what is this] This cannot be the same Reuven that I
knew so well before the manna rained down from
heaven. His appearance is so much more refined
spiritually. And Moses said to them, “it is the bread.”
The heavenly food caused us to change.”
Before I became Bonita’s CPE student, I extended
spiritual care to many hundreds of patients, families
and staff over many years. I considered myself a
competent, adroit pastoral caregiver. When Bonita
taught CPE to our group, I felt as if I were receiving
profound spiritual sustenance, as if I was eating
heavenly bread. I no longer recognized my pastoral
care in the same way I regarded it beforehand. Bonita’s
CPE units caused my spiritual formation to change, my
pastoral identity to be altered. My “appearance” and
Continued on page 2
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President's Message, from pg. 1
skills as a chaplain became significantly refined, much
as the manna changed the visages of those in the desert
who ingested it.
I am now a pastoral educator within the Veterans
Affairs system. Although not a CPE supervisor, I work
with VA chaplains to improve their chaplaincy skills. A
lot of what Bonita taught me about “pastoral strategies”
is material that I use in my teaching. Bonita made us
aware of the importance of regarding every person as a
“living human document,” a piece of sacred text to be
mined for its different meanings. Thus the patient is no
longer a diagnosis lying in bed, but rather,
metaphorically, a Sefer Torah to be treated as hallowed.
The pastoral visit becomes an opportunity to encounter
the divine within each human being, to experience not
only the person in bed but also Hashem himself.
I recall the pastoral strategy of “walking with
someone in their suffering.” This one addresses
empathy, hearing and staying with the lament of the
other. To “walk” with someone is to feel what she feels,
maintaining healthy boundaries yet allowing another’s
life story to enter my own.
Yet another strategy, Bonita taught, is helping the
patient/client say what is true for them (Giving voice
Certification Commission Report
Rabbi Seth L. Bernstein, D.Min., Chair
On behalf of the members of the Certification
Commission of N.A.J.C., we welcome and congratulate
the following members who became Board Certified
Chaplains since the publication of the last Newsletter:
Rabbi Jonas Guenzweig, Rabbi Sara Berman
Rabbi Nadia Siritsky, Chaplain Allison Kestenbaum
Rabbi Benjamin Lanckton
I look forward to more of our regular members
becoming Board Certified. The next certification
interviews will be held on Mon. June 22nd at the
Pearlstone Retreat Center. Deadline for material
submission is March 27th.
The members of the Certification Commission
elected at the February conference are: Rabbi Seth L.
Bernstein, Chair; Rabbi Leah Wald, Vice-Chair; Rabbi
Moshe Abramowitz, Rabbi Yehuda Blank, Rabbi
Zahara Davidowitz -Farkas, Rabbi David Glicksman,
Rabbi Naomi Kalish, Chaplain Gila Katz. I am grateful
for those who have served on the Commission and on
certification committees in the past and thank, in
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to the voiceless). Nothing supports the soul of the
patient more than validating their values, beliefs,
opinions, thoughts, and feelings. If they cannot
articulate these themselves, the chaplain has a golden
opportunity to do so on behalf and with the patient.
The fourth pastoral strategy is spontaneous prayer.
How better to convey the sacredness of the moment
than to pray for or with the patient in a manner that
invokes G-d but addresses the patient’s concerns
during the visit. Anyone who knows Bonita is well
aware of her mastery of delivering spontaneous
prayers.
I have summed up, inadequately, the gist of
Bonita’s CPE approach. To be sure, there is much more
to mention and to celebrate. Bonita is a great teacher
because she has the gift of simplifying the profound. I
can never repay the debt that I owe to Bonita for
feeding me heavenly bread, which has changed my
spiritual care into something I don’t recognize from
before, something that is refined.
Bonita, may you continue to raise generations of
chaplains.
Rabbi Lowell Kronick
Rabbi Lowell Kronick
particular, Rabbi Joel Levinson, who served as
Commission Chair over the past two years. As we
continue to build upon the strength of our past, the
Certification Commission is working to make the
certification process more inviting and welcoming
while being faithful to our unique Jewish chaplaincy
standards to the professional standards of our cognate
chaplaincy organizations. Should you have any
questions regarding the certification process please feel
free to contact me at 508-755-2519 or
[email protected].
Our prophet Joel said it beautifully: “The elders
shall dream dreams and the youth shall see visions.”
Regardless if you are in your later or earlier years of
chaplaincy, I urge you to fulfill your dream, your vision
of becoming a Board Certified Chaplain.
Rabbi Seth L. Bernstein
Rabbi Seth Bernstein
NOTE: “Attendance at all Plenary Sessions and one workshop in
each group will earn Certified Members a total of up to 25 hours of
Continuing Education toward the annual requirement of 50.”
NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
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Website
News
Rabbi Sam Seicol
Please browse the newly
enhanced NAJC website to find
information of upcoming events,
timely articles, forms, general
information, as well as links to other
sites of potential interest to all
involved in Jewish chaplaincy. If you
have comments, questions, or
suggestions; email the webmaster at
[email protected].
The NAJC website now also
offers personalized access to the
member pages. All members,
certified members, and retired
members can access these pages by
requesting the login information
sheet from [email protected],
[email protected], or by filling in an
inquiry form (follow the link
“inquire” at the bottom of any page).
While visiting the member pages,
be sure to check out the opportunity
to be listed in our soon to be created
Listener & Speaker Bureau. This
outreach program of the NAJC will
be publicized to institutions,
facilities, and organizations that
could benefit from the wealth of
knowledge and experience embodied
in our membership.
Watch the newsletter and the
website for continued updates.
Your NAJC Webmaster,
Rabbi Sam Seicol
Rabbi Sam Seicol
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"So, How Was It?"
Moshe A. Abramowitz & Charles P. Rabinowitz
Continuing Education and Peer Review Committee
For those Certified Chaplains, who
completed and submitted annual reports for
Continuing Education or Peer Review, please
accept our warmest thanks. At this writing, we
sent out confirmation letters. If you did not
complete the annual requirements or have
difficulty of any kind, then please contact one of us for help.
Board Certification must be “renewed” yearly. Thus, your report
provides the Committee with evidence that your certification
should continue for another year. Without your cooperation and
compliance in reporting which activities would justify continued
certification, we cannot extend your certification into the next
calendar year. The policies and details are at the NAJC website,
Member’s section.
The Committee appreciates your feedback about the changes
made for this year. We did not mail forms and related items to the
membership as in the past. We asked you to access them on the
NAJC website. There were some glitches which are now corrected.
We are sorry for any difficulty that you had.
Although the whole process was available electronically, we did
notice that many members chose to complete the forms by hand
instead. We welcome your feedback about why that is the case and
any problems you had with the forms or the process. We want to
make it as easy as possible. Please email us through the link in our
name or call us.
Again, our thanks to those who worked hard to comply with
these annual requirements. Your timely actions enhance the image
of NAJC and professional chaplaincy.
May you continue to walk the path of service from strength to
strength and blessing to blessing.
Rabbi Moshe A. Abramowitz
Rabbi Charles P. Rabinowitz
Rabbi Moshe A. Abramowitz
Rabbi Charles P. Rabinowitz
NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
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Treasurer's Report
Rabbi Yaacov Rone, NAJC Treasurer
As I begin my second year as treasurer, I am
pleased to report that with due diligence and the full
cooperation of the professional staff, officers and
board, the NAJC once again is living within our
modest budget. How we accomplish the things that we
do, is still a pleasant surprise to me.
We paid tribute to one of our own, Rabbi Bonita
Taylor, at the recently concluded Summit '09
Conference in Orlando. This lovely evening also
provided us with gifts that exceeded $14,000 which
translates into wiping out the anticipated deficit for
this year (since we did not have our own conference
which generates income for us).
In addition, we will finally complete the longawaited thorough financial review (we are not in need
of a formal audit) by an independent CPA by the end
of our fiscal year, June 30.
2nd Yom Iyun for Midwest Chaplains
Rabbi Sheila Segal
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When I assumed this position, I transferred our
reserve account from Merrill Lynch to Fidelity, which
resulted in generating $500 in interest income instead
of account charges in the amount of $600. I also was
able to halve our insurance expenditures by changing
companies.
The one area that really needs our attention (and is
actively being worked on by our colleague, Rabbi
Judith Edelstein and her committee) is finding other
sources of income besides dues so as to expand the
services and programs that we can provide to our
members—not an easy assignment in this difficult
economic climate.
I thank all of you for your cooperation and
particularly for being so responsive in paying your
dues in a timely manner. It truly is an honor to serve as
treasurer.
Rabbi Yaacov Rone
Rabbi Yaacov Rone
with the Patient,” a
roundtable panel
discussion with
Rabbi Norm
Lewison, Cantor
Jan Mahler, and
Chaplain
Supervisor Phyllis
Rabbi Suzanne Griffel introduces
Toback, moderated
Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
by Rabbi Joseph
Ozarowski. Rabbi Suzanne Griffel, NAJC board
member and conference co-chair, was a prime organizer.
The activities of the Chicago Jewish Chaplains
Group and the emergence of the Midwest Jewish
Chaplains Group are exciting examples of NAJC’s goals
for developing regional connections and programming.
Attendance at the fall program was supported by travel
stipends from NAJC, and limited stipends will be
available for the spring program as well. Those who
cannot otherwise attend should contact the NAJC office
directly.
If you would like to get involved with activities in
your region, or have suggestions for regional programs,
please contact me.
Following their successful program in Chicago this
past fall, the Midwest Jewish Chaplains Group is now
planning a Yom Iyyun to be held this spring in
Milwaukee.
The June 10th program will feature Rabbi Julie Pelc,
Assistant Director of the Kalsman Institute on Judaism
and Health at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles. It will take place
from 9:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Jewish Home and Care
Center in Milwaukee. For more details, contact Rabbi
Jodie Futornick, program coordinator and a member of
the Chicago Jewish Chaplains Group, at
[email protected].
The Chicago Jewish Chaplains Group, which has
blossomed into the Midwest Jewish Chaplains Group,
first galvanized around planning for the 2008 NAJC
Conference in their home city. Following the conference,
they went to work on organizing the exciting fall Yom
Iyyun that brought together 35 Jewish chaplains from
throughout the NAJC Midwest Region for an exciting
day of professional learning and development.
The morning program focused on “Patient
Autonomy” with esteemed presenter Rabbi Gedalia Dov
Schwartz, Rosh Bet Din of the Rabbinical Council of
America and a noted expert on Jewish medical ethics. In Rabbi Sheila Segal
the afternoon, participants shifted to the topic of “Prayer NAJC Vice President
Sheila Segal
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NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
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Honoring Rabbi Bonita E Taylor
Rabbis Shira Stern & Joel Levinson
This year the NAJC was pleased to honor Rabbi Bonita E. Taylor for all of the work that she
has done to advance and improve Jewish Chaplaincy. Through her work as a supervisor at
HealthCare Chaplaincy and her written work as well, she has touched the lives of almost
every member of the NAJC and has helped each of us to become more effective and
compassionate chaplains.
One of the many highlights of this evening was hearing from a diverse group
of chaplains who each spoke of how Bonita helped them to develop their skills
as chaplains. Her ability to bring out the best in each of us is a true blessing.
As Rabbi Taylor has blessed us, we pray that the Holy One watches over and
protects Bonita in her sacred work. With love and an abundance of respect,
Rabbi Shira Stern
Rabbi Shira Stern
Rabbi Joel Levinson
Rabbi Joel Levinson
Tributes Honoring Rabbi Bonita Taylor
Sponsored Evening
Tribute:
Healthcare
Chaplaincy
Amudim:
Zev Schostak
Tzvi Karpel
Moe Kaprow
Yakirim:
Larry Rothernberg
Shira Stern
Simeon Schreiber
Tsurah August
Steven Kaye
Chaverim:
Gary Lavit
Zahara DavidowitzFarkas
Andrea Gouze
Stephen Roberts
Dvora & Ben Corn
Yedidim:
Carole Gould
James Michaels
Cary Kozberg
Gary Aidekman
James Silva
Judith Kummer
Tamar Earnest
Joel Levinson
Sheila Segal
Bill Walker
Cecille &
Stanley Asekoff
Ted, Charla, Ayden
& Camryn Schneider
Mitchell Marcus
Dayle Friedman
Anita &
Paul Greenman
Talmidim:
Natan Fenner &
Eric Weiss
Margaret Goldstein
Marcia Colton
Bernfield
Tony, Heidi, Jeremy
& Gregory Gold
Aimee &
John DeJarnetter
David Zucker
Lawrence &
Nadine Schneider
Naomi Kalish &
Rob Scheinberg
Debra Flitter
Roy Shapiro
Eli Hoffman
Sandra Katz
Judith Edelstein
Seth Bernstein
NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
Lowell &
Faye Kronick
Ezra Hanon
Myrna Matsa
Sol Schiff
Larry &
Andrea Moldo
William &
Dean Horn
Yehuda Blank
Elihu Flax
Nancy Fisher
Susan Leventhal
Jeri Gertz & James
Kauahikaua
Jack Frank
Charles Sheer
Friends:
Jerome Stein
Seymour Panitz
Marcia Garelik
Moshe Abramowitz
David &
Gladyce Moseson
Joshua Minkin
Bob Tabak
Yeheskel &
Pearl Lebovic
Len Lewy
Sam Seicol
Yaacov Rone
Steve Sussman &
Janice Roberts
Sandy Bogin
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Anniversary Blessing for a
Long Marriage
by Rabbi Meryl M. Crean
Writers write what they know,
singers sing of familiar themes.
Poets compose verse from visions within their ken.
This is why so few stanzas or stories
exist of love lasting a lifetime.
Sixty∗ years of marriage is a rare blessing.
If it were simply romance,
the flame would have flickered,
sputtered and grown dark.
If merely for honor or fidelity
It would grow old with the years
and yield a bitter fruit.
But enduring love reaches deep,
grows fonder with time.
Playfulness remains ever-present
And a yearning to know more about the other.
Each new discovery a moment for celebration.
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Na’aseh v’nishma we said to God
– We will do and we will listen
pledging to “do” even before knowing.
After sixty years
– Each of us says to the other
a’aseh v’eshma – I will do and I will listen
For I know your heart, body and spirit
well enough to know what you need
and I give it freely.
And I will listen so you will be heard
known, loved and treasured
as the unique image of God you are.
Drink water from your own cistern, running water
from your own well.
Your springs will gush forth …
Let your fountain be blessed;
Find joy with the lover of your youth –…
Be infatuated with love for each other always.
(excerpted from Proverbs 5:15 – 18)
Rabbi Meryl M. Crean
Rabbi Meryl M. Crean
NAJC Chaplaincy Mission to Medinat Israel: May 16-22, 2009
THE DU SIACH CONTINUES!
Including a special tribute to Dr. Barry Kinzbrunner.
Land Packages Include:
• Two-Day Professional Spiritual Care Conference, May 19th & 20th
• (includes lunch, coffee breaks and all conference materials on both days.)
• Two Days of Chaplaincy visitations at local health care facilities
• Four Nights/Five Days at the King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem. Deluxe Rooms
• Four Breakfasts
• Welcome Dinner, May 17th
Cost: $850.00 Per Person (double occupancy)
Single Room $1380.00
Flights from Newark Aiport (Airfare cost subject to availability on day of purchase. Contact Steve 973-535-2575)
For additional information, please contact:
Cecille Allman Asekoff, National Director, NAJC.
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NAJC Newsletter Iyar/Sivan 5768/June 2008
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Spiritual Needs committee
planning Summit ‘09
Rabbi Sandra Katz
We were voices over the phone every month. I
might not recognize some of the faces. We helped
to make the gathering of our six cognate groups a
little friendlier and more welcoming for people
across the spectrum of faiths and practices.
I have a favorite anecdote from the conference.
We had planned for a special meditation room that
would stay quiet, along with prayer spaces for
worshippers with words. I learned on Monday at
lunchtime that the Moslem prayer rugs were in the
quiet space, and that was where they were offering
their prayers. This probably didn’t work for either
group. Since we had made different plans, I replied
that I would follow up. I contacted Father Jim
Kunz, the chair of the committee, and left him a
voicemail about the concern.
That afternoon I attended a session facilitated
by our own Rabbi Naomi Kalish, featuring a
number of faith groups in prayers from their
traditions. I watched with keen attention as the
Summit ‘09: An Israeli View
Yaacov Kabilou
Chair Israeli Delegation, JDC-ESHEL
I just came back from a wonderful conference in
Orlando after 4 days of interesting lectures and
sessions, meetings with lovely and professional people
and a great welcoming from our NAJC colleagues.
The Summit 09 of Spiritual Care - Collaborative,
Health and Hope: The Hard Reality of Living
Intentionally in a Village of Care took place in a very
good location- The Coronado Spring Resort in Disney
World, very suitable to the subject. We were in a South
American type of village covered with a lot of spirit.
The most giving part of the Summit was the fact that
many representatives came from all over the world.
I met with pastors, reverends, Imam and Rabbis
during the conference and I felt spiritually supported
all day long.
Nullam arcu leo, facilisis ut
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first Imam to be board certified rendered for the
group the words and motions of his prayers.
Later in the afternoon, Father Kunz and I met
with a facilities manager, who told us that he
would arrange for a room for Moslem prayers for
Tuesday and probably Wednesday.
In the evening, as we honored Rabbi Bonita
Taylor, the imam I had met appeared in the
doorway. I shared our news with him that the
group would have a special space for prayer.
Father Kunz and I enjoyed the notion that here
we were, a Catholic priest and a rabbi, making sure
that our Moslem neighbors had a chance to pray
according to their tradition. Toward the end of the
conference, Al-Hajji Imam Yusuf H. Hasan and I
spoke about terrorism. I am grateful to him for
sharing his perspective with me. I hope that the
time will come soon that we can model our
interactions outside the conference with the respect
and curiosity that guided us during those days in
February.
Rabbi Sandra Katz
Rabbi Sandra Katz
This time we were 9 Israelis that joined the
conference and among us was Dr. Ben Corn who gave
an extraordinary plenary: Crossing Disciplinary
Boundaries. All the other plenaries were very
interesting too.
Lots of social events were there, but the tribute to
Rabbi Bonita Taylor given by The NAJC group was
very touching. Here is a group of Rabbis including the
Israeli delegation decide to make a special evening to a
special woman.
I've attended few conferences on spiritual care in
the last years, but this one was very unique because we
felt part of the NAJC group among many hundreds of
participants. That was possible only due to so many
ongoing efforts made by Ms. Cecille Asekoff. She does
everything to make us feel good and many thanks is
not enough. Thank you Cecille.
Yaacov Kabilou
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Summit ‘09 in Pictures:
Presidents and Executive Directors of the
Spiritual Care Collaborative
Yaacov Kabilou, Yakir Kaufman, Lowell Kronick,
Ephraim Karp, Cecille and Walter Smith
Teresa Snorton, Executive Director ACPE
and Cecille Asekoff.
Israeli Delegation
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NAJC Newsletter Tishrei 5769/September 2008
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Summit ‘09: More From Our Israeli Colleagues:
The organization was excellent. The travel agent did a wonderful job in the flying reservations. We didn't have
to take care of the registration to the summit and to the hotel thanks to Cecille.
The NAJC counter in the summit was very helpful. It made me feel I had a place that feels like home to go to in
that big event. The "red" sheet they gave us helped a lot.
Joining us with tutors was a good idea. I, personally, didn't find the time to sit and talk with the both of them,
but it was nice to know that they were there for me in case I'll need them.
I found most of the workshops very interesting. The Israeli presentation made me feel very proud. It was really
inspiring to see that so much was done is such short time. The workshops with Rabbi Bonita Taylor and Rev. Gina
Rose Halpern were excellent. I got a lot of tools out of them. The workshop with Rabbi Zahara Davidowitz Farkas
was very intense. Zahara is a unique teacher. I learned a lot about me and my life in this workshop.
Dr. Benjamin W. Corn gave an outstanding lecture. Every person in the huge auditorium was moved by his
words and his singing.
For me this conference was a unique opportunity to meet so much people leaving my dream. I want to thank
everybody that made it possible for me to attend and to experience summit '09.
Michal Schwartz
A few months ago, I received a brochure with information regarding
the Summit ‘09 Conference to be held in Orlando, Florida stating that the
conference would be the first international, inter-faith conference on
spiritual care. I read through the brochure, wishing that I would be able to Elisheva Flamm-Oren and Yaacov Kabilou
participate but knew that that was unrealistic. To my pleasant surprise at
the beginning of January, I received a call telling me that I had been recommended to participate in the Israeli
delegation being formed to travel to the conference and asking if I would be interested in going. Needless to say,
my immediate answer was, yes.
The conference began with the first plenary speaker who spoke about the way that our perspectives shape the
way that we care. This was later followed by a banquet dinner. We were all assigned tables at which were seated
inter-faith delegates. I must admit that I was a little apprehensive about meeting international inter-faith delegates
so close after the Gaza operation. However, this apprehension proved to be unfounded. It was a special experience
to sit at one table with Christian chaplains, eating my kosher meal. They showed a genuine interest in the work
being done in Israel. Although concern and sadness were expressed for the difficult and complex situation in our
country, no anti-Israeli sentiments were expressed, quite the opposite. It was especially moving to have the
Chairman of the conference request that the 1800 delegates welcome the 9 representatives of the Israeli delegation
and we were indeed warmly welcomed.
The plenary speakers were excellent, each speaking eloquently on their respective subjects. Dr. Ben Corn,
however, was outstanding and his presentation along with the workshop given by Elisheva Flamm-Oren, Dvora
Corn, Yakir Kaufman and Zahara Davidowitz-Farkas describing the evolvement of spiritual care in Israel made us
all proud to be part of the Israeli delegation.
The workshops which I attended were interesting and informative. I saw that many of the issues which we are
dealing with in Israel are not unique and that colleagues in other parts of the world are also wrestling with similar
issues. I learnt that in many places people do not know what chaplaincy or spiritual care is, a situation that I had
thought was unique to Israel. I learnt that the profession was undergoing change and many are wrestling with the
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Nullam arcu leo, facilisis ut
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issue of including secular non-theological or philosophical based
spiritual caregivers into the profession this being a major move away
from the tradition where chaplains are men of the clergy. Questions of
how we present ourselves to the public, definitions of spirituality, our
place on the multi-disciplinary team, the quality of our visits as
opposed to the quantity, charting and many more issues were
addressed. Hearing these issues being discussed gave me a sense of
perspective and the ability to see where spiritual care is in Israel as
opposed to the world. Although we are at the pioneering stage of the
profession, we have made unbelievable progress in a very short time. Another important aspect of the conference was, of course, the
networking. Talking to and exchanging views with other chaplains and
spiritual caregivers was enriching and I came away with some new
suggestions for the staff of the Tel Hashomer hospice where I work.
All this being said, the most moving thing for me was the
experience of sitting with colleagues of different Jewish denominations
as well as of different faiths. Ultra-orthodox rabbis sat together with
reform rabbis, Christian ministers and others, speaking the same
language, carrying on a dialogue based on mutual respect, openness,
understanding, and a willingness to share and learn together and from
each other. This for me was the most inspiring message and experience
that I took with me from the conference.
I can only pray that the feelings of goodwill and friendship so
openly expressed, will serve as a model for “real life” to enable us to
live side by side, respectful of our differences but joined by a oneness
of something deeper, more meaningful and significant.
In summary, I would like to once again express my appreciation to
the NAJC , the JDC and the N.Y. Federation for making this all
possible.
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A Gentle
Reminder
Rabbi Dayan Charles P.
Rabinowitz, BCC,
Editor, Journal of Jewish
Spiritual Care
I write this as I begin Calvary
Hospital’s preparations for
Purim. Since the Purimspiel
brings particular dread even to
this writer each year, I know
how deadlines sometimes loom.
For each of you, who did a
workshop at Summit 2009, the
journal deadline for submitting a
short article version for our
Winter/Spring issue is April 6,
2009. This issue enables the
majority of our members to read
and learn from your ideas.
Please accept my warmest
thanks for sharing something of
you with all of us.
Rabbi Charles Rabinowitz
Rabbi Charles Rabinowitz
Fraidie Amitai
There Comes A Time
Rabbi Meryl M. Crean
There comes a time when the body seems to say
I’ve seen enough
I’ve done enough
I’ve loved enough.
There comes a time when the mind seeks a
different horizon.
I am at peace.
There comes a time when the heart is full
when the cup is indeed overflowing
and the blessing is to let go.
There comes a time
to celebrate their lives
to remember them
and to give thanks
I’m not afraid
that their lives touched ours.
I’m ready to go home
Fort this we are blessed, we are deeply blessed.
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With Our Members
bwj lzm
Chaplain Lowell S. Kronick,
Associate Director for Education
of the National Veterans Affairs
Chaplain Center, received the
William A. Nelson Award for
Excellence in Health Care Ethics.
The award was presented on
February 18, 2009 at the National
Leadership Board of the
Veterans Health Administration..
Sheila and Dan Segal recently
welcomed their new grandson
who was born Feb. 18th.
Judi Adele Plotkin on the birth of
Lyra Rosalyn, named Lira
Rushka bat Avi-Esther after her
great-grandmother Rushka
Faegel
Barbara Speyer on the birth of
granddaughter Vivian born Feb.
18th.
Myrna Matsa whose grandson
Benjamin Leor was born on
Purim to Professor David and
Lesley Matsa. Myrna has
another grandson, Shmuel, born
Erev Sukkot to Moshe and Liat
Matsa.
~xny ~wqmh
Sheila Kaprow on the death of
her mother Sylvia Weinstein,
also the mother-in-law of Moe
Kaprow
Chaplain Happenings
xwk rXy
David J. Zucker, recently published
an article entitled, “Roth’s The
Dying Animal as Homage to
Malamud’s A New Life” in Studies
in American Jewish Literature,
Vol. 27, 2008.
NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009
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Rabbis Cary Kozberg & James
Michaels on the publication of
Flourishing In The Later Years:
Jewish Perspectives on Long term
Pastoral Care.
Regina Sandler-Phillips was
recognized in a The New York
Jewish Week article entitled
"Compassion Has 18 Faces" about
her work in the generallyneglected chaplaincy realm of
kibbud hameit / honoring the
dead.
Arthur Rosenberg, is affiliated with
the Motion Picture & Television
Fund. The MPTF received the
The National Consensus Project
Quality in Palliative Care
Leadership Award.
Yasher koach to both Daniel
Coleman and Stephanie
Dickstein who recently wrote
articles for Plainviews.
Myrna Matsa was appointed as a
voting member to the Emotional
and Spiritual Care Committee of
the NVOAD.
~yabh ~ykwrb
We Welcome These New
~yrbx
Members:
Bruce Mark Cohen,
White Plains, NY
Rabbi Bryan Kinzbrunner
Highland Park, NJ
Rabbi Tsurah August
Elkins Park, PA
Rabbi Moshe Thomas Heyn
Cincinnati, OH
Rabbi Mark Wieder
Pittsfield, MA
Affiliates:
Janie Garnett
Clifton Park, NY
Alice Greenberg-Sheedy
South Orange, NJ
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Rabbi Nathan Langer
East Brunswick, NJ
Chaplain Karen Modell
Lantana, FL
Ms. Andrea Moldo
Amherst, NY
Student Affiliates:
Jennifer Frenkel
Cincinnati, OH
Cecilia Herzfeld-Stern
Carlsbad, CA
Erica Steelman
Philadelphia, PA
Anne Feibelman
Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Ruth Gais
Summit, NJ
Joyce Gottlieb
New York, NY
Rabbi Tsvi Landau
Evanston, IL
Pam Kaplan
Scottsdale, AZ
Chava Monastersky
Berkeley, CA
Cantor Jan Morrison
Columbia, MD
Israel Affiliate:
Fraidie Amitai, Sde Gat
Elisheva Flamm-Oren, Jerusalem
Dr. Yakir Kaufman, Jerusalem
Debi Pinto, Jerusalem
Michal Schwartz, Petach Tikva
Iris Solomon, Zichron Jacob
Donate to the Kummer Fund!
Share your life’s events by helping
others. Donations to the Rabbi
Howard Kummer Memorial Fund
for Pastoral Education may be
made in honor of or in memory of a
friend or loved one. Contact the
office for more information.
973-929-3168
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Newsletter Deadline:
May 5, 2009
Submit all materials in electronic
format (Word Document or RTF)
to the editor:
Rabbi Mark B. Goldfarb
[email protected]
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Virginia Beach, VA
[email protected]
[email protected]
(757) 728-7112
President
Chaplain Sheila Segal
Merion, PA
ssegal@
abramsoncenter.org
(215) 371-1818
Vice President
Rabbi Yaacov Rone
Pittsfield, MA
rbyaacov@
hotmail.com
(646) 319-4524
Treasurer
Rabbi Robert Tabak
Please Note
These
Upcoming
Events:
Midrash & Medicine, May 11-13,
2009, Kalsman Institute in
Pacific Grove, CA
Israel Kenes & Du Siach May 18-21, 2009, Jerusalem
NAJC Conference: January 10-13,
2010 in Boston, MA
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Rabbi Lowell Kronick Rabbi Shira Stern
San Francisco, CA
[email protected]
(415) 750-4129
President Elect
To facilitate communication
amongst our members and readers
of the NAJC Newsletter, you are
now able to click on email links in
the PDF and on-line version of the
Newsletter.
~ Ed.
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The 2009-2010 Officers, Board & Committees
Rabbi Natan Fenner
Email Links Are Active!
F
Morganville, NJ
[email protected]
(732) 580-2569
Immediate Past Pres.
Nominating Committee
Cecille Allman
Asekoff
Whippany, NJ
[email protected]
(973) 929-3168
Executive Director
Rabbi Moshe
Abramowitz
Elizabeth, NJ
mabramowitz@
sbhcs.com
(973) 322-4857
Continuing Education/
Peer Review Committee
Rabbi Sandy Bogin
White Plains, NY
[email protected]
(914) 864-5160
Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Meryl Crean
[email protected]
Media, PA
[email protected]
[email protected]
run.org
(215) 635-6862
(610) 353-7660 x 220
Secretary
Rabbi Ephraim Karp
Beechwood, OH
Dvora Corn
Rabbi Moe Kaprow
Winter Springs, FL
[email protected]
(407) 415-3322
Military
Rabbi Sandra Katz
Rochester, NY
ravsandra@
hotmail.com
(585) 427-7760 x 878
Chaplain Allison
Kestenbaum
San Francisco, CA
[email protected]
(917) 744-3819
Co-Chair Conference
Commission
Rabbi Myrna Matsa
Meterie, LA
[email protected]
(228) 229-9480
Rabbi Charles
Rabinowitz
Larchmont, NY
crabinowitz@
calvaryhospital.org
(914) 834-2880
Continuing Education/
Peer Review Committee
Editor, Journal of Jewish
Spiritual Care
Jerusalem, Israel
[email protected] Rabbi Sam Seicol
[email protected]
(052) 529-1333
Brookline, MA
(216) 403-4002
Va'ad Hanhala
[email protected]
Chair, Conference
(617) 738-6987
Rabbi Judith Edelstein
Commission
Webmaster
New York, NY
Rabbi Seth Bernstein
[email protected]
Rabbi Bonita E. Taylor
Worcester, MA
Fundraising
New York, NY
Templesinaiworcester
[email protected]
Rabbi Naomi Kalish
@msn.com
(212) 644-1111
Hoboken, NJ
(508) 755-2519
[email protected] Rabbi Joshua
Certification
(212) 523-6920
Commission
Zlochower
CPE Committee CoFairfield, CT
chair
[email protected]
(203) 396-1001
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NAJC Newsletter Adar/Nisan 5769/March 2009